Trekipedia

The Badlands, Book One

Beginning a suspense-filled saga that unites the Star Trek universe!

• Kirk: Stardate 5650.1
  Picard: Stardate 45091.4
• Released December 1999

Located dangerously near the Cardassian border, the unstable region of space known as the Badlands has long been a hazard to interstellar navigation, characterized by violent plasma storms and other even stranger phenomena. Many starships have faced destruction there, including at least two incarnations of the Starship Enterprise . . .

James T. Kirk braves the perils of the Badlands to confront a Romulan Bird of Prey that has entered Federation space in pursuit of a fleeing smuggler. But trespassing Romulans may be the least of Kirk’s problems when the mysterious forces at work in the Badlands threaten both his ship and his crew!

A generation later, Jean-Luc Picard faces the same phantom menace when he commands his Enterprise into the Badlands on a mission vital to Federation-Cardassian relations. With Will Riker‘s life on the line, and the entire ship in jeopardy, it’s up to Lieutenant Commander Data to determine the true nature of the Badlands’ hidden danger!

Written by Susan Wright

Cast:

U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701
• Captain James T. Kirk
• Commander Spock
• Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy
• Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott
• Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu
• Lieutenant Nyota Uhura
• Ensign Pavel Chekov

U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D
• Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• Commander William T. Riker
• Dr. Beverly Crusher
• Counselor Deanna Troi
• Lieutenant Commander Data
• Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge
• Lieutenant Worf

Guest Cast:

• Ensign Ro Laren

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Excerpt

“Drop the forcefield,” Kirk ordered.

The blue sheen disappeared, along with the faint tang of ions in the air.

Kirk put his hand phaser on his belt as he went to the comm. It was already tied into the Barataria‘s frequency. “This is James Kirk of the Federation Starship Enterprise. Please open your hatch and come out.”

“This is Commander Teral of the Barataria.” The voice was flattened and distorted with hissing feedback. “I demand that you release my ship.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that until you come out and answer some questions.”

There was silence from the comm—only the hissing and popping of the Barataria‘s open channel.

Kirk turned to Spock. “Well, now what? Do we blow the door open?”

“A most difficult decision,” Spock commented.

“I’d hate to ruin such a fine ship,” Kirk said speculatively, knowing full well the channel was still open. “But if there’s no other way . . .”

Spock caught on fast, as always. “We are currently outside Federation territory. Free-space codes include the rights of salvage—”

“Salvage!” the intercom shrieked.

There was a puff of vacuum breaking, and the seal of the hatch split. The door slid open with a smooth whir.